Mobile Photography Awards (MPA) 2026
The Mobile Photography Awards (MPA), founded in 2011, is the longest-running international competition open exclusively to photographs shot and edited on mobile phones and tablets. The 2026 competition is open through 18 December 2026 with over USD 10,000 in cash and prizes, a USD 3,000 Grand Prize for the MPA Mobile Photographer of the Year and a separate USD 500 Photo Essay award; the 15th annual results from the 2025 cycle were announced by 17 March 2026. The MPA relies on a tool restriction, mobile-only capture and editing with no desktop manipulation, and publishes no AI or RAW policy, so it serves in the index as a tool-restriction baseline rather than an authenticity standard.
- Deadline
- December 18, 2026
- Entry fee
- USD 15 for 1 image, USD 30 for 3, USD 50 for 6, USD 100 for 15, USD 149 for 25; Photo Essay USD 29
Authenticity policy
AI policy
AI policy unspecified
RAW files
Not specified
Editing rules
The MPA's only authenticity rule is a tool restriction: entrants assert that all images were shot and/or edited with mobile phone and tablet apps, no desktop software is permitted, and a desktop may only be used to compress, rename and upload files. The FAQ and the category list say nothing about AI, generative tools or RAW files; manipulated work with added textures, multiple exposures and app effects belongs in the Digital Fine Art / Visual FX category. An earlier version of this entry described a dedicated AI category; the current category list has none.
Verified on November 7, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- Does Mobile Photography Awards (MPA) 2026 allow AI-generated images?
- The published rules for Mobile Photography Awards (MPA) 2026 do not state a clear AI policy. Confirm with the official rules before entering.
- When is the Mobile Photography Awards (MPA) 2026 entry deadline?
- Entries for Mobile Photography Awards (MPA) 2026 close on December 18, 2026.
- How much does it cost to enter Mobile Photography Awards (MPA) 2026?
- USD 15 for 1 image, USD 30 for 3, USD 50 for 6, USD 100 for 15, USD 149 for 25; Photo Essay USD 29
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